Staff Culture & Values

Manner of Relating

Curiosity

Be open, explore, wonder, listen, and be vulnerable with my teammates. 

Let go of “needing” to be right to be vulnerable and humble in my interactions.

Seek to understand before being understood.

Seek to be more self-aware:

1. What I know

2. What I know I don’t know

3. What I don’t know, I don't’ know

Curiosity

1. Value learning over being right.

2. Value growing over the survival of my identity.

3. Commitment to being open, curious and committed to learning versus being defensive, closed, and committed to being right.

4. Committed to growing in self-awareness.

5. Committed to regarding every interaction as an opportunity to learn.

• Being “right” doesn’t cause drama, but wanting, proving and fighting to be “right” does.

• When we are triggered or reactive, our blood chemistry changes. The fight-flight reaction kicks in and our body assumes a reactive posture. One way to change our experience is through conscious breathing.

• Conscious breathing – whenever we’re in a threatened and defended state, we hold our breath or breathe shallowly. Four conscious breaths with a four-second inhale and a four-second exhale deep literally shifts our blood chemistry and breathing pattern.

Wonder

Wonder is not about figuring anything out. It begins with a willingness to explore and step into the unknown, which involves taking a risk and letting go of control.

Examples of a wonder question (note that there is no “right” answer to a wonder question): 

1. I wonder what I can learn from this?

2. I wonder what I could do today that would allow for a breakthrough in my life?

3. I wonder what I could learn today that would benefit my co-workers?

4. I wonder how the other person is observing this?

“By me, Through me” Mindset

In the daily interactions of ministry and working with teammates, we can take a “to me” mindset or a “through me” mindset. A “to me” mindset sees everything going on as happening to me. It’s easy to feel powerless to the whims and forces of others or the fate of circumstances. This mindset constantly asks: Why is this happening to me? It has a way of pulling us into Drama Triangles of victim, villain, or hero. The world should be a certain way and when it’s not there is a focus on who or what’s responsible. [15 Commit p30]

“By me, through me” leaders take circumstances as they are and seek to live in their sphere of influence. Steven Covey This mindset seeks to operate in two distinct ways. First, they want to know what they can learn. Second, they want to know what can happen through them. They seek to understand how they can contribute or lead something of value. [15 Commit  p32] 

Grace

We treat ourselves and our teammates as image-bearers of God. Seek to live more and more as secure in Christ. Treat and think of yourself and your teammates as favored by God.

Because of Jesus: At the end of the day, you are good.

Practical: Laugh at yourself and w/ others. It’s ok to be angry or disappointed, but we can still assume the best in our teammates.

Speaking Candidly

This is not turning off your filters to be unconscious out loud or verbally dumping. It means being honest in a way that is vulnerable on our part. One healthy way of speaking candidly is to share the observable facts as we understand them and then to share our evaluation and belief about what those facts mean. [15 Commit p106] [Learn to rumble. Brene Brown]

Potency over Perfection

Perfection becomes binary and law-like and draws us to judgment and protectionism. Potency pulls us toward what matters most. It makes room to celebrate growth & results while making room for the honesty of what we want to do differently to experience more of what matters most.

We can bring out the best in ourselves and one another without the weight of shame or guilt.